About This Program

The Superfund program includes sites that have been listed on the National Priorities List (NPL), sites that have been proposed for listing on the NPL and sites being addressed under the Natural Resource Damage provisions of CERCLA. The state can act as either the lead agency or support agency in Superfund cleanup actions. The state works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and responsible parties to produce cleanup plans and designs, and to implement these plans. Cleanups are funded by the responsible party whenever possible. If there is no viable responsible party, the cleanup is funded with 90 percent federal and 10 percent state funds.

The Site Inspection program is the phase of the Superfund program that performs preliminary evaluations and field investigations of potentially contaminated sites to determine whether they should be included on the National Priorities List (NPL).

Doug Jamison, Superfund and Voluntary Cleanup Unit Leader

Barbara Nabors, Superfund and Site Assessment Unit Leader

The Brownfields program provides public and private property owners with resources to facilitate cleanups as well as assurances against regulatory enforcement. These resources include tax credits, revolving loans, grants or assistance with environmental site assessment. A brownfield site is real property that may not be redeveloped because of the presence or potential presence of environmental contamination.

The Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment program was developed to provide timely review of cleanup plans submitted by property owners that want to redevelop or sell previously contaminated property for redevelopment. Cleanup decisions are based on existing standards and the proposed use of the property. Once program staff determine that the plan will protect human health and the environment, it's up to the property owner to complete the cleanup and ensure the plan's goals have been achieved.

Doug Jamison, Superfund and Voluntary Cleanup Unit Leader

The Federal Facility Remediation and Restoration Unit works with federal agencies, state and local governments, businesses, and the general public to ensure that facility cleanups or remedial actions are conducted in a manner which is protective of human health and the environment, and are consistent with state and federal law. This Unit oversees the remediation (and often, redevelopment) of approximately 40 active sites, formerly used defense sites, or Base Realignment and Closure sites. Cleanups are primarily conducted under CERCLA or RCRA.

Tracie White, Federal Facility Remediation and Restoration Unit Leader

The Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action program (UMTRA) facilitated the cleanup of 15 million cubic yards of uranium tailings at former mill sites in nine Western Colorado communities. Because much of the cleanup is complete, the focus has shifted to primarily "Post -UMTRA issues" or the discovery of new uranium mill tailings material by private citizens, utility companies or local governments, and what to do about it. The program is responsible for remediation of commercial and residential properties where tailings were used in construction as backfill, soil amendments, and in concrete. The goal of this remediation is to reduce radon concentrations in structures to levels that are below the limits set by the U.S. EPA. Division staff work with the Department of Energy and local communities to properly stabilize these sites.

Michael Cosby, Post-UMTRA Project Manager